Zero carb - no ketones

zero-carb
#1

Hi all, after some words of wisdom or insight from the brains trust :slight_smile:
I have been zero carb for about a week now, after being keto for 12 months.
During that 12 months I have lost nothing and actually gained a few kilos.
Going ZC to try and break this stall.

I am eating beef, eggs and fish with a very small amount of pure cream in my morning coffee.
I DO have a morning coffee just cos. Not prepared to give that up.
All meat/fish is good quantity of either bacon fat or ghee.

Well, after a week, I have lost zero weight - despite peeing heaps!
I was low carb/ketoish prior to that so I didnt expect to lose any glycogen water weight.
My appetite has diminished noticeably so I was so surprised to see low ketone level.
I am eating only two meals a day, and eating to satiety. Cant manage any more than that.
Not eating more than about 150 gm/day of protein (my weight is 81 kg so that is a bit on the high side I suppose)

But what has me stumped is that I cant get my ketones above 0.3!
I am measuring with a Freestyle Optium, so pretty accurate.
I check about 3 times a day.
Nup - 0.3.

I grabbed a random relative the other day to test them in case the machine has become stuck - they measured 0 which is what I guessed (carboholic!!!).

I am madly watching all the videos and reading zero carb threads I can to motivate me to continue this for a while, which I plan to do, but the low ketones has got me stumped.
To be honest, I rarely got above 0.8 even on 20 gm/day of net carbs which is why I wanted to give ZC a go.

I have been stalled in weight loss for 12 months now, and desperately eliminating all manner of foods to try and break that stall. Veggies were my last hold out as I love them and have a pretty awesome veggie patch.

Are some people just not ketone producers?
Anyone got any science/info/experience to share?

thanks all

(Bob M) #2

Why are you concerned about ketone levels?

Three times a day and no movement at all does seem unusual, though. My ketones go up (and blood sugar down) over the course of the day. Like you, I generally have lower ketone readings unless I fast multiple days.

#3

Thanks @ctviggen
I am concerned about no/low ketones as it relates to indicating lipolysis.
That is my main concern right now.
I still have about 15 kg to lose and I am desperately trying to do that to see if I can avoid a knee replacement.

I do feel well on ZC, although admittedly it has been one week only, but I need to lose weight and 20 gm/day of carbs wasnt doing it for me (neither was dropping dairy, OMAD, IF, EF - you name it).

I wonder if there is a biochemical phenotype that just doesnt produce ketones as well?
@amber @richard ??

(Rebecca) #4

I don’t think I have ever had my ketones over 0.5 mostly around 0.3. I was keto for a bout 12 months and ZC since mid july.

(Ken) #5

If you’re lipolytic, which you are, and showing low ketones it just means your body is using those produced. Ketones are merely an indicator of lipolysis, not the driver. As far as your stall, are you waiting to be hungry before you eat?

(Margaret) #6

Google “whoosh”. The “whoosh” factor is where your body replaces the fat used as energy in fat cells with water. On the scale it appears that no weight loss is occurring, then suddenly the fat cells release the stored water and the scale says we’ve lost 4-5 lbs. in one day. It’s the body’s way of maintaining homeostasis.

(Omar) #7

do you have any bloating after eating?

Do you feel that the food is just sitting in your stomach?

#8

Thanks @becsta,
reassuring to hear I am not the only little snowflake with very few ketones showing!!

#9

Thanks @240lbfatloss Ken,
240 l!!??
Seriously!!
That is fabulous!

I have been doing a lot of reading and coming to that conclusion as well - I am an efficient user of energy and dont waste it.
Yes, waiting till hungry and most times I only eat once or twice a day and then until I am satiated.

#10

Hello @Alpha,
yes, that is in part the reason to go ZC. I am looking at this as a very controlled elimination diet.
I do get bloating, and have been unable to narrow it down to a specific food.
i also still get really severe reflux, mainly at night.

Yesterday, I had some bacon and eggs and developed severe abdo pain and cramping, and was plagued with reflux at night.
I think it may be the bacon ( and any cured meats) but also sadly think it might be the eggs too.

So far I get no problems on plain red meat or fish.
I will add other foods back in very gradually to test for reactions.

#11

Hello @jannymack,
I have been waiting 12 months for the whoosh but it hasnt eventuated yet!
I seriously wonder if I have some food allergies (and beginning to suspect bacon, eggs and cured meats) that have been resulting in continued inflammation impeding fat loss.

ZC is a way to pull back and identify those culprit foods.
Yesterday, a feed of bacon and eggs caused severe abdo pain and cramping as well as severe reflux, so they are off the menu for a while.
Lucky I like fish and red meat :slight_smile:

(Ken) #12

It’s way to early to call your pause a Stall. After four to six weeks would be a better time frame.I think you’re fine, and not having a weight loss one week can easily be water retention, since a normal fat loss rate is only a pound or so per week.

#13

Maybe I didnt explain it clearly enough - I have not lost any weight, and have in fact gained a few kilos, for 12 months!
Just re-read my top post, and I forgot to put in that I have been keto since late last year.
I have had great NSV’s, but my weight is not one of them.

Sorry for not being clear.
I will edit the original post.

(Ken) #14

Ah, that means you really have two choices. Carbs for metabolic purposes or Fasting. It depends on what’s causing your Stall. Either your metabolism is suppressed, or your body has become comfortably lipostatic with your current pattern.

#15

Not prepared to go the carbs option as it mucks up my blood sugars too much.
I am a recovered T2D, so that is no option.
Fasting is for some reason quite hard for me, but I think if I edge into it via a zero carb route it might be easier.
As well as ZC being a way to eliminate some potential inflammatory foods I may have been eating.
Thanks for your feedback.’
Appreciate it :slight_smile:

(Omar) #16

In my case I suspected all foods except coffee.

coffee can stop the bile production in some people.